Toni Kay-Wolff’s training company —The Well-Mannered Dog Inc. — far exceeds its moniker, much to the delight of my husband, who never wanted a dog. (He’s a cat-person. I still married him. Whatever.)
Toni’s reputation and professionalism are unmatched, as she came recommended by no less than five friends. Immediately upon meeting Wish (our Lagotto Romagnolo puppy), she established a warm and caring — yet firm — environment, which put Wish (and me) at ease. Toni is equally qualified with her less hairy counterparts (i.e., humans) and walked me/us through every step of the training process, expectations (hers and ours), important details, helpful hints, and important considerations; Toni speaks with you, not to you and not at you; a consummate professional. For Toni, dog training isn’t a job, it’s her career. She is completely committed to you, your dog and the training process.
I grew up with a dog and wanted my two young children (ages 10 and 9) to experience all the extra love (and extra work) of a family dog. Plus, our 10 year old is on the autism spectrum, and studies concur that pet interaction provide social and behavioral benefits for children with autism (https://www.autismspeaks.org/science/science-news/autism-and-pets-more-evidence-social-benefits).
Toni combined both hands-on visits at our home (which included children), and hers, an incredibly dog-friendly, welcoming, spotless environment with the newest training apparatus, and acres of outdoor space to teach/play. Toni combines substantial daily one-on-one training with canine socialization, a benefit for dogs of all breeds, ages and sizes.
After a few weeks with Toni, Wish returned home as sweet as when she left, but completely trained. Thanks to Toni, Wish:
- listens to commands
- follows commands
- doesn’t have “accidents” on the rugs/carpets
- enjoys an easy-to-manage day/night schedule
- is a happier dog because she knows what’s expected of her
The best news of all is that because Wish is so well mannered, my husband loves and adores Wish as much — if not more — than the kids and me! That is the ultimate testament to Toni’s abilities. Toni and The Well-Mannered Dog Inc. have my/our unreserved recommendation. You will never find a better, more qualified trainer for your dog or family.
Now, if only Toni could train my kids to follow my directions as well as she did Wish…
—Allison Ziering Walmark
Westport, CT 2016
“Toni was an amazing trainer for our Lagotto puppy, Thatcher, and an incredibly helpful resource for our whole family. We are confident we chose the best trainer in the country. Toni successfully and lovingly coached us through every stage of our puppy’s life – from her first night at our house to her first plane ride and everything in between – and we couldn’t be more pleased with our puppy’s progress under Toni’s guidance.
Our puppy is now one of Toni’s “graduates” who boards with her when we travel, and every time we pick her up she beautifully re-trained and happy.”
– Katie Burke 2016